Lyon, January 7, 2026 — A Transavia Boeing 737 traveling from Paris to Tunisia was forced to make an emergency landing in Lyon, France, on Monday after the captain detected suspicious smoke in the cockpit.
A Transavia flight scheduled to connect Paris-Orly to Sfax-Thyna, Tunisia, diverted to Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport on Monday after the crew reported smoke in the cockpit.
- A Transavia Boeing 737 traveling from Paris to Sfax-Thyna made an emergency landing in Lyon on Monday.
- The crew reported smoke in the cockpit, prompting the captain to issue an emergency call.
- No injuries were reported, and passengers were accommodated overnight before being redirected to other flights.
- The incident occurred a day after a similar event involving an Air France flight.
The aircraft, operating as a Transavia flight, departed Paris-Orly at 3:30 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Sfax-Thyna at 5:25 p.m., according to reporting from Le Figaro. While flying over Saint-Étienne, the captain activated an emergency transponder code (Squawk 7700), signaling the need to divert to the nearest suitable airport, which was Lyon-Saint-Exupéry.
According to a statement provided to Progress, Transavia said the decision to land was made “in accordance with the manufacturer’s procedures, the company’s instructions and in application of the precautionary principle.” A fire truck was dispatched to the airport to respond to the reported smoke, but the incident was quickly brought under control.
No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. Passengers were accommodated in Lyon overnight and then rebooked on alternative flights to their final destination on Tuesday.
Recent Incidents Raise Questions About Air Safety
This incident comes after a similar event on Monday involving an Air France flight from Beirut to Paris, which was diverted to Munich due to a burning smell in the rear of the cabin, as reported by Le Figaro. While the causes of the two incidents appear unrelated, they highlight a recent uptick in in-flight emergencies requiring unscheduled landings. Aviation safety experts will likely examine both events to determine if any systemic issues are contributing to these occurrences.
Transavia’s decision to prioritize safety by following manufacturer procedures and the precautionary principle underscores the airline’s commitment to passenger well-being.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by Le Figaro and Progress and added independent analysis and context.
